Plants undergo respiratory
processes like animals and microorganisms. Plants can degrade carbohydrates by
means of glycolysis and the Krebs cycle. Plants are also capable of catalyzing
the general reactions of protein and amino acid metabolism. The organelles
which support these reactions in plant cell are microsomes, mitochondria and
cytoplasm. On illumination, plants undergo an additional metabolic activity. This is known as photorespiration. This
process is opposite to photosynthesis and decreases plant growth and crop
yield. Photorespiration arises in plants when rubisco catalyzes the oxygenation
of ribulose-1,5-biphosphate. Photorespiration produces adverse effects in crops
like wheet, rice, legumes and sugar. Therefore for better yields,
photorespiration has to be stopped. Researchers are struggling hard to develop
methods to stop photorespiration and to enhance photosynthesis.
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